Ethical Considerations and Societal Implications in Aging Research
摘要
The human quest for life and quality has driven tremendous progress in healthcare and technology. While life span extension is an important accomplishment, equally important is health span, which is defined as the period of life spent in good health and free from debilitating diseases. Anti-aging interventions, while promising, often emphasize life span over health span and raise ethical considerations about their consequences on society. Longevity and quality of life are topics with numerous debates. Ultimately, the pursuit of longevity is best grounded in an ethic of the human good life wherein progress in medical technology can be afforded by all while serving an equitable and sustainable future. This chapter encompasses major ethical challenges, such as equity and access to anti-aging therapies and health strain. It further discusses the philosophical dimensions of aging and how the balance between life span and health span needs to be maintained.